Street outside White House cleared due to ‘suspicious backpack’ during Ukraine protest after Russian invasion

SEVERAL streets near the White House were closed on Sunday over a suspicious package.

Police cleared the area as protesters gathered to support Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

“Today U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Officers responded to a suspicious package in the area of Lafayette Park on the north side of Pennsylvania Ave NW," a Secret Service spokesperson told The Sun.

"The Metropolitan Police Department explosive ordinance disposal team responded, searched the package and after finding no hazardous materials, declared the package safe.”

The streets closed were 17th Street northbound at G Street, 17th Street southbound at H Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound at 18^th Street.

DC Police assisted the Secret Service in handling the situation, the Metropolitan Department's Office of Communications confirmed.

A spokesman for the DCFD also confirmed they were assisting in the investigation.

Videos posted on Twitter showed a Secret Service directing people away from the street.

All roads have been reopened and a significant number of pro-Ukraine demonstrators remained in the area on Sunday afternoon.